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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*

July 14, 2023




*Media Contact:
*Danny Wimmer <[email protected]>






3 Michigan Counties Receive New Public Administrators





*LANSING* – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced the recent appointments of three new county public administrators. Marcie Klida Blossom serves as the Bay County public administrator; Michael J. Zitta serves as the Ottawa County public administrator; and Mary L. Benedict serves as the Ionia County public administrator.  

“I have great confidence in the new administrators and believe that they will execute their work on behalf of Bay, Ottawa, and Ionia Counties with dedication and integrity,” said Nessel. "They each bring decades of legal experience and knowledge to their appointments, which is exactly what their respective counties deserve.” 

Blossom, of Bay City, is a graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. She is currently a partner with Allsopp Wackerly & Blossom, PC, in Bay City, Michigan, where her practice focuses on estate planning and probate estates, family law matters, and municipal law for Bay City. Blossom also serves as treasurer for the Board of Directors for the Bay County Bar Association, chairperson for the Planned Giving Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the McLaren Bay Medical Foundation. Blossom was sworn in on June 26th. 

Zitta, of Grand Haven, was sworn in on June 30th, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota Law School. After five years in private practice in Minnesota, he returned to Michigan and joined Scheuerle & Zitta, LLP as a partner in 2001. Zitta practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate administration and litigation, guardianships, conservatorships, and family law. 

Benedict, of Belding, received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She has been in private practice since 1991. Her practice previously focused on family law, juvenile law, and probate and estate planning. Her practice is now primarily focused on mediation and probate. In 2011, Benedict was awarded the Michael Barnes Award for her pro bono services to the West Michigan Legal Aid Program and has been named Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Mediator. Benedict was also sworn in on June 30th. 

“I look forward to working with each of the new county public administrators,” said State Public Administrator Randi M. Merchant. “I am confident that each of these appointees will effectively and efficiently fulfill their duties when acting as a fiduciary in this position of trust in their respective counties.”  

County public administrators have powers and duties primarily related to intestate decedent estates where there are apparently no known heirs. They also manage the determination, collection, liquidation, and/or distribution of any assets in the estate. Additionally, attorneys who serve in this capacity often have private practice responsibilities that are separate and unrelated to their appointment as county public administrators. 

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